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Chatsworth fire damages 1-story home
By Tony Sapochetti
tsapochetti@pantagraph.com
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CHATSWORTH — Fire extensively damaged a house Thursday afternoon in Chatsworth, but no one was injured.

A friend of the home’s residents happened to see the fire around 2 p.m. while driving by the single-story home at 509 N. Third St., firefighters said. No one was in the house at the time.

“I was just driving by when I saw smoke coming out from all of the windows,” Kyle Runyon said. “I was checking it out and could see the fire from the bedroom. Then I called 911.”

Fire departments from Chatsworth, Cullom, Forrest, Strawn, Piper City and Saunemin all came to assist at the scene, as did Southeast Livingston County Ambulance Service.

The fire apparently started in a rear bedroom, but the cause remained undetermined Thursday night. Chatsworth Assistant Fire Chief Steve Kemnetz said the Illinois state fire marshal had been notified to examine the scene.

It took about 25 minutes to bring the fire under control, Kemnetz said.

The house is being rented by John Kirchner, his girlfriend, Amanda Leadingham, and the couple’s 9-month-old son, Andrew Kirchner.

Kirchner said he had left the house to run an errand and learned of the fire only when he came home.

“It seemed like I was only gone for five minutes,” he said.

The house is owned by Kirchner’s brother, Tim, who said that it was insured.

Kemnetz said the damage was extensive.

John Kirchner was not yet able to go inside the house Thursday to assess the full extent of the damage, so it was unclear what the family needs. Anyone interested in helping may call Tim Kirchner at (815) 383-4145.

Take a look
Firefighters examine the damage left over from a Chatsworth fire, Thursday afternoon (February 28, 2008). (The Pantagraph/Tony Sapochetti)
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Reader comments on this story - 1 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

very unfortunate wrote on Feb 29, 2008 6:49 AM:

" A very unfortunate incident indeed, but I have to chuckle at the way the article is written. It indicates that the house was also rented by " the couple’s 9-month-old son, Andrew". Did he have to sign all the rental agreement papers, and go with his parents when they got their renter's insurance. Does little andrew have gainful employment so as to contribute financially toward the rental payments every month? It might be because I haven't had enough coffee yet, but that phrasing in the article cracked me up. "
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